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Maroon Tide Nation Loses Pat Blades

by Carey Meitzler

The Maroon Tide Nation lost Pat Blades on Friday night, August 20, at age 46. Pat has

been a fixture for many years at Picayune Maroon Tide sporting events. Blades and his

ever present grin and one liners will be impossible to replace.

Early last October, I contacted The Clarion Ledger when I had noticed they were looking

for unique stories related to high school athletics. I sent an email giving them a little

background on Pat and got the complimentary "thanks, we will be in touch if we do the

story." A few weeks later, I got a call from one of their reporters who informed me they

were in the process of contacting Coach (Dodd) Lee to get some information. On that

Friday, just before the Hancock game, Coach Lee told me that he had been contacted

by The Clarion Ledger and they were going to do the story. We were both thrilled for Pat.

The timing of Pat's death is ironic to me in that it was Friday night when he passed from

this life, just one week before the Maroon Tide will embark on their 2004 gridiron campaign.

Pat will be missed canvassing the sideline. His inspiration to those around these parts

and his genuine love for Picayune athletics are enormous losses. On the other hand,

what we lose is heaven's gain.

Pat was a very loyal supporter of the Maroon Tide to the very end. Even as his life was

in its final hours, I was told by Jerry Bounds that some of Pat's last words were

"Maroon Tide". I am not surprised at all. In fact, I'm willing to bet Sam Adkins and

Duck Taylor are planning a nice reception for Pat.

Below is a link to the story the Clarion Ledger did on Pat last season.